Clarifying Serum (3 ml)

Professional Review

MDSUN Clarifying Serum is like the Rolls-Royce of serums for people with oily skin: They’ve thought of everything, it covers all of the bases and then some, but the only reservation someone may have is that it’s pricey ($150 per bottle). That said, MDSUN Clarifying Serum is one of the few serums out there that covers all of the issues for oily and acne-prone skin, as it has oil-reducing and pore-refining ingredients, plus hyperpigmentation fighters. It’s pretty fantastic, and if you can afford it, there’s absolutely no reason not to try this. For more on the ingredients, read on!

Mandelic acid

One of the main ingredients in MDSUN Clarifying Serum,  mandelic acid, is an alpha hydroxy acid derived from almonds. When applied to the skin in concentrations as high as in this serum, mandelic acid has been shown to be a potent antioxidant in the skin (Tetrahedron). A review in Clinics in Dermatology further found that mandelic acid takes down skin roughness and fine lines.

Capryloyl salicylic acid

According to DermNetNZ, capryloyl salicylic acid works by softening keratin, a protein that forms part of the skin structure. This helps to loosen dry scaly skin, increasing cell turnover and effectively renewing the skin. It is often used in acne treatments to cleanse and to prevent clogging of the pores. When capryloyl salicylic acid is used in combination with other treatments, it is often to allow the other formulation’s ingredients to penetrate the skin more effectively.

Nicotinic acid

Studies have not been conducted comparing the efficacy of niacinamide to salicyclic acid or benzoyl peroxide, two commonly prescribed acne treatments. However, in comparison to 1% clindamycin gel, Shalita et. al. has shown that niacinamide yields similar results. In addition, use of niacinamide may be preferable over clindamycin and other antibacterial agents in the long term because the bacteria tends to re-emerge after a period of antibacterial agent use (Shalita et. al.). This product uses a different form of vitamin B3. Instead of using niacinamide, the basic form of vitamin B3, this formula uses nicotinic acid, the acidic form of vitamin B3, which is also known niacin. It’s still fantastic and has many of the same skin-refining properties as niacinamide, but also includes some exfoliating properties as well.

Vitamin B5

Panthenol is an alcohol made out of pathenolic acid, or vitamin B5. It’s used for everything from sleep deprivation to dandruff, and is found in numerous shampoos and skin care products (MedlinePlus). While there isn’t a lot of evidence for the use of panthenol in homeopathic evidence, there’s more for what it does in skin care products.

[Read More: Why Alcohol in Skin Care is Safe]It coats skin and hair as a humectant moisturizer — which means that it draws in moisture from the environment (International Journal of Cosmetic Science). But because these moisturizers can also pull moisture from the lower levels of skin, it’s beneficial to use them in combination with an occlusive moisturizer.

Several studies done on mice show that panthenolic acid increases the production of cell fibroblasts. It’s effective in aiding wound healing and for this reason has been shown to work well in anti-aging products (Drug & Cosmetic Industry). In a study on 30-60 year old women, a combination of panthenol and niacinamide improved signs of aging, such as hyperpigmentation and redness (Indian Journal of Dermatology).

Bottom line

MDSUN Clarifying Serum is a must-have serum for anyone with oily skin, acne, and mild to moderate sunspots. It’s fantastic because it will take down oil production without drying out your skin — and provides amazing anti-aging action to boot. A must have!

*Ingredients are subject to change at the manufacturer’s discretion. For the most complete and up-to-date information, refer to the product packaging.